Detained US tourist accused of ‘spying’ apologises: North Korea

Merrill Newman, US war veteran detained by North Korea, reportedly apologised for alleged crimes during the Korean War and “hostile acts” committed during the recent trip in a video released by the North Korean authorities, state media has claimed.

Seoul: Merrill Newman, US war veteran detained by North Korea, reportedly apologised for alleged crimes during the Korean War and “hostile acts” committed during the recent trip in a video released by the North Korean authorities, state media has claimed.

"I have been guilty of a long list of indelible crimes against DPRK government and Korean people," Newman purportedly wrote in a four-page statement, adding, "Please forgive me," as per news reports.

Newman continued to be unreachable and it could not be confirmed whether the apology was forced, reports stated.

Korean Central News Agency issued a statement which said that Newman had attempted to get in touch with surviving soldiers trained by him during the Korean War. It further said that he had confessed to killing civilians and carried material criticising North Korea.

The statement also said that once the war veteran returns to US, he will tell the “true features of the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea (DPRK).”

85-year-old Newman was detained by North Korea authorities while his plane was about to take off on October 26. He was on a 10-day tour of the country. While Newman was detained, his travelling companion former Stanford University professor Bob Hamrdla, was allowed to depart.